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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam
The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.
Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.
Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!
Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.
Click here to report a problem with this page.
Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "million british pounds" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "ladyjessicapowell20102@live.co.uk" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Lady Jessica Powell <info@charity.com>
Reply-To: ladyjessicapowell20101@live.co.uk
Date: Fri, 28 May 2010 12:32:17 +0800
Subject: Please do assure me.
Lady Jessica Powell
Redmond, WA 98052.
Ref: BTD/968/06
Batch: 409978E.
Here writes Lady Jessica, suffering from cancerous ailment.
I was married to Sir Richard Powell an Englishman who is dead.
My husband was into private practice all his life before his death.
Our life together as man and wife lasted for three decades without a
child, as a result of this my husband and I made a vow to uplift the
down-trodden and less-privileged individuals as he had a passion for
persons who can not help themselves due to a physical disability or
financial predicament.
When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of 20 Million British
pounds which were derived from his vast estates and investments in capital
market in the bank here in the UK. Presently, this money is still in the
bank.
Recently, my doctor told me that I have limited days to live due to the
cancerous problems I am suffering from and the stroke in addition.
With this that has befallen my family and me I have decided to donate this
fund to you and want you to use this gift to fund the upkeep of uplift the
down-trodden and the less-privilege since i have no child and my late
husband's relatives are bourgeois and very wealthy persons I do not want
my husband's hard earned money to be misused.
I shall give you the contact of the bank in UK and a Letter of Authority
that will empower you as the original beneficiary.
You can contact me through my personal email
address::ladyjessicapowell20102@live.co.uk
Best Regards,
Lady Jessica.
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